The SSU has blocked a transnational channel for smuggling money stolen in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

The SSU exposed five participants of the scheme and seized almost UAH 37 mln in Hryvnia equivalent (USD 970,000).

The dealers tried to smuggle the money to Chernivtsi region through Porubne checkpoint, hiding cash in suitcases and on their bodies.

According to preliminary findings, the money was stolen from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The criminally obtained funds were transported to one of the Middle East countries, then - through European countries to the customs border of Ukraine.

The suspects tried to bring the cash to Chernivtsi region posing as tourists on a bus.

Basing on the SSU’s investigation, the cash has been seized.

The SSU is investigating the possibility that the smuggled money was supposed to be used to pay russian agents in Ukraine.

In addition, in cooperation with the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine, all routes of the illicit money transferring and persons involved are being tracked. Part of the funds that were earlier seized in transit in an EU country has been blocked. The decision to recover these funds for the benefit of Ukraine is pending.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The SSU emphasizes the inevitability of punishment for crimes against Ukraine’s national security.

The operation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office, in cooperation with the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine.